Sandra Belk, retirement

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Cody Mitchell and 1 co-sponsor

Open, public dispute hearings for the Board of State Examiners of Electricians and the Electricians' Appeals, with clients allowed to submit written affidavits about the work.

Introduced and adopted

Purpose and intent

H.4279 proposes to increase transparency in the adjudicative process used by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians and the Board of Electricians’ Appeals. By mandating public access to dispute hearings and allowing members of the public who have received electrical work from the electrician in dispute to provide input, the bill aims to broaden participation in proceedings that determine electricians’ licensing or disciplinary outcomes.

Key provisions

Insertion of new Section 32B into Chapter 13 (as amended): “Dispute hearings before the board of state examiners of electricians and the board of electricians’ appeals shall be open to the public.”

Public participation: The boards must permit a member of the public who has received electrical work from the electrician involved in the dispute to submit a written affidavit or testimonial about the electrician’s work.

Scope: Applies to dispute hearings before both the Board of State Examiners of Electricians and the Board of Electricians’ Appeals.

Affected parties and impacts

Electricians subject to disciplinary or adjudicative proceedings: hearings become publicly accessible, potentially increasing scrutiny.

Members of the public and clients who have received electrical work from the electrician in question: eligible to submit written affidavits/testimonials.

The Boards (State Examiners of Electricians and Electricians’ Appeals): new procedural requirement to host open hearings and manage public affidavits.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Legislative status: Introduced July 23, 2025; reported favorably by the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; referred to House Ways and Means the same day.

Legislative actions noted: New draft of House Bill 418 referenced in the same committee report.

No specific effective date or funding provisions are stated in the text of the bill itself; implementation would typically require passage, signature, and potential appropriations or rule changes.

Potential implications and considerations

Transparency: Open hearings and public affidavits can enhance accountability and public confidence in the adjudicative process.

Privacy and fairness: Public access may raise privacy concerns for individuals and may affect how witnesses or clients present information; the bill does not detail rules for admissibility, evidence standards, or cross-examination.

Administrative burden: Public participation and managing written affidavits may require additional staff time and recordkeeping.

Overall take

If enacted, H.4279 would ensure that dispute hearings before the electricians boards are open to the public and would permit clients who received the electrician’s work to submit written affidavits. This represents a shift toward greater transparency in licensing and disciplinary procedures for electricians in Massachusetts.

Bill